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    Budgeting & Costing Guide

    A. Salaries & Fringe Benefits

    • A 5% annual increase should be applied to personnel salary projections for future budget years for all sponsors except NIH.
    • A 3% annual increase should be applied to personnel salary projects for future budget years for NIH.
    • The Sponsored Program rates provided below are consistent with the current Cost/Indirect Cost Rate Agreement and negotiations with the Department of Health and Human Services, and the University’s standard projected fringe benefit increases for future budget years.  The Sponsored Program rates should be used when developing sponsor paid budgets.
    • The University rates provided below should be used when developing cost share budgets.

    Sponsored Program Fringe Benefits Rates and Projections (%)

    Description

    FY15

    FY16†
    FY17*

    FY18*

    FY19*

    FY20*
    Faculty 36.40 37.40 39.00 40.00 41.00 42.00
    Professional/Classified 53.80 50.10 52.00 53.00 54.00 55.00
    Special payroll with Retirement(1)   23.40 22.80 24.00 25.00 26.00 27.00
    Special Payroll without Retirement(2) 8.20 7.50 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00
    Post Docs 17.60 32.80 34.00 35.00 36.00 37.00
    Graduate Assistant, Acad. Year(3) 17.60 32.80 34.00 35.00 36.00 37.00
    Foreign Scholar 17.60 32.80 34.00 35.00 36.00 37.00
    Student Labor 5.20 4.50 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00
    1. Examples: Summer faculty, other state agency employees
    2. Examples: State retirees, summer grad students
    3. Rates refer to grant funding sources only. See the budget website for non-grant rates.    † FY16 rates are provisional and are subject to change.
    * FY17 – FY20 rates shown are projected estimates for budgeting purposes only.

     

    University Fringe Benefits Rates and Projections (%)

    Description FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 FY19 FY20
    Faculty 45.25 48.75 50.25 51.75 53.25 54.75
    Professional 58.25 61.75 63.25 64.75 66.25 67.75
    Classified 93.15 96.65 98.15 99.65 99.65 99.65
    Special payroll with Retirement(1) 26.85 30.35 31.85 33.35 34.85 36.35
    Special Payroll without Retirement(2) 8.85 12.35 13.85 15.35 16.85 19.85
    Post Docs 27.05 30.55 32.05 33.55 35.05 36.55
    Graduate Assistant, Acad. Year 23.85 27.35 28.85 30.35 31.85 33.35
    Student Labor 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05 1.05

    B. Graduate Assistants, Stipends, Fees, and Tuition

    A full time graduate assistant devotes one-half time to studies (approximately 20 hours per week) and one half-time to graduate assistant duties. During the summer, graduate assistants are put on special payroll and can work 40 hours per week. The summer stipend, below, utilizes the published rates and can be used as a tool for budgeting summer salary. The department sets the pay rates for summer employment. Refer to the Graduate School website for additional information regarding graduate assistants.

    Graduate Assistant Stipends
    Estimates for Proposal Development Only†

    Calendar Year
    50% (20 Hrs)    		 Academic Year
    50% (20 Hrs)    		 Summer (40 Hrs)
    1 Month    		 Summer (20 Hrs)
    3 Months    		 Summer (40 Hrs)
    3 Months    		 Bi-Weekly Pay
    Periods
    Stipends for Academic Year August 2014 – May 2015
    LEVEL I $27,954 $20,966 $4,301 $6,989 $13,977 $1,075.16
    LEVEL II $29,414 $22,061 $4,525 $7,354 $14,707 $1,131.31
    LEVEL III $32,702 $24,527 $5,031 $8,176 $16,351 $1,257.77
    Stipends for Academic Year August 2015 – May 2016 (5% projected increase)
    LEVEL I $29,352 $22,014 $4,516 $7,338 $14,676 $1,128.91
    LEVEL II $30,885 $23,164 $4,751 $7,721 $15,442 $1,187.87
    LEVEL III $34,337 $25,753 $5,283 $8,584 $17,169 $1,320.66
    Stipends for Academic Year August 2016 – May 2017 (5% projected increase)
    LEVEL I $30,819 $23,114 $4,741 $7,705 $15,410 $1,185.36
    LEVEL II $32,429 $24,322 $4,989 $8,107 $16,214 $1,247.27
    LEVEL III $36,054 $27,040 $5,547 $9,013 $18,027 $1,386.69

    Graduate Assistant Stipend Level Description:

    • LEVEL I – Graduate assistant with at least a baccalaureate degree.
    • LEVEL II – Experienced graduate assistant with at least the master’s degree or its equivalent in the field of graduate study. (Equivalency consists of 24 credits of appropriate course work beyond the baccalaureate, together with admission to a Ph.D. Program).
    • LEVEL III – For student with experience as graduate assistants who have at least the master’s degree or its equivalent and who have passed the general examination for the Ph.D.

    † Please refer to the Payroll Department website for updated stipend information.

    Graduate School Fees and Tuition

    The schedule of fees contained in this section is comprehensive and is expected to prevail during the 2014-2015 academic year, but the Board of Trustees and the Board of Governors for Higher Education reserve the right, at any time, to authorize changes in fees and to establish new fees applicable to all currently enrolled students.

    The fees and tuition for the 2014-2015 academic year are located at: http://bursar.uconn.edu/2014-2015-graduate-tuition-and-fees/.

    SPS tuition calculator has been developed to assist with budgeting tuition.

    Actual Semester Dates

    • 2014 – 2015
      • Full Academic Year: 08/23/14-05/22/15; 19.5 Pay Periods x Bi-Weekly $ = Offer Amt.
      • Fall Semester: 08/23/14-01/07/15; 9.8 Pay Periods x Bi-Weekly $ = Offer Amt.
      • Spring Semester: 01/07/15-05/22/15; 9.8 Pay Periods x Bi-Weekly $ = Offer Amt.
      • Spring Continuation: 01/08/15-05/22/15; 9.7 Pay Periods x Bi-Weekly $ = Offer Amt.

     

    • The 12-Month Stipend is not to be used in the offer letter.
    • You cannot arrive at the full academic year stipend by doubling the stipend paid for one semester.
    • Summer Stipend based on continuation dates 6.5 pay periods.

     

    C. Post-Doctoral Stipends

    • Below are the current National Research Service Award (NRSA) Post Doctoral stipend levels that should be taken into consideration when preparing your proposal budget. These stipend levels must be used when applying to the NRSA for support. Stipend levels can also be found on the NIH website.
    • Use of the stipend level which is consistent with the intended postdoctoral years of experience is recommended for use with other support sources.
    • For more information, visit the Graduate School Post Doc Policies.

    Years of Experience

    Stipend

    0

    $42,000

    1

    $43,680

    2

    $45,432

    3

    $47,244

    4

    $49,128

    5

    $51,096

    6

    $53,148

    7+

    $55,272

     

    D. Student Labor Pay Scale

    Student Labor and Work-Study are paid based on an established pay scale determined by the office of Student Employment. The rate of pay for a position is based on the skills and level of experience required for the position, regardless of whether earnings are paid through the work-study or student labor payrolls. The pay rate is determined by the hiring supervisor and is subject to approval by the student employment staff in the Office of Student Financial Aid Services.

    Student Labor/Work Study Pay Scale (Effective January 2010)

    Class

    Requirement

    Pay Rate

    I

    		 The position does not require a   specific degree of skill or prior work experience.

    $8.70

    II

    		 The position requires a reasonable   degree of skill, prior experience and a fair amount of responsibility.

    $8.85 – $10.05

    III

    		 The position requires a high   degree of skill and entails an extensive amount of responsibility.

    $10.10 – $12.05

    IV

    		 The position requires advanced   skill, market/environmental demand, knowledge and/or training in a   scientific, academic or specialized study.

    $12.10 – $27.40

    E. NIH Salary Cap

    Effective January 12, 2014, the NIH salary limitation for Executive Level 2 was increased to $181,500. For additional information, please refer to NIH Notice: NOT-OD-14-052.

     

    E. F&A Rates

    Federal & Corporate Rate

     

    Rate Base*

    7/1/09 – 6/30/11

    7/1/11 – 6/30/12

    7/1/12 – 6/30/13

    7/1/13 – 6/30/14

    7/1/14 –
    6/30/15

    Research

    On Campus

    MTDC

    53.0%

    57.0%

    57.0%

    58.0%

    58.0%

    Off Campus(2)

    MTDC

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    Instruction

    On Campus

    MTDC

    60.0%

    63.0%

    63.0%

    63.0%

    63.0%

    Off Campus(2)

    MTDC

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    Other Sponsored Activities

    On Campus

    MTDC

    30.6%

    29.2%

    29.2%

    29.2%

    29.2%

    Off Campus(2)

    MTDC

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    26.0%

    The University’s F & A Agreement, negotiated with the Department of Health and Human Services. Cost/Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

    * F & A costs are calculated on Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) which is Direct Costs minus certain exclusions. Direct Costs include salary, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, animal per-diems and the first $25,000 of each subcontract, etc.

    The exclusions include equipment over $5,000, rent, Specialized Service Facilities, fellowships, tuition and subcontract amounts beyond the first $25,000 for each subcontract.

    1. Equipment: In order to be consistent with State classification standards, the dollar threshold for capitalization of equipment at UConn is $5,000.
    2. For all activities performed in facilities not owned by the institution and to which rent is directly allocated to the project(s), the off campus rate will apply. Grants or contracts will not be subject to more than one F & A rate. If more than 50% of a project is performed off campus, the off campus rate will apply to the entire project.

    Sponsor Stated Limits

    When the University collects F & A costs at less than the full federally negotiated rates,  F & A costs are charged to Total Direct Costs (including equipment, subcontracts, etc., but excluding tuition)  unless otherwise stated in the sponsor guidelines.

    Funding from state agency appropriations and local municipalities are charged a current reduced rate of 20%.  F & A  costs should be charged to Total Direct Costs, excluding tuition.

    Animal Per Diem Rates

    Animal per diem rates are available here.